Impact of Foliar Applied Boron on Yield and Yield Components of Spring Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Drought Condition.

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during spring (Feb-June), 2010 to study the effect of drought and boron on yield and yield components of hybrid maize. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement. Three irrigation regimes, I₁= normal irrigations, I₂=drought at knee height (30 Days after sowing) and I₃=drought at anthesis (60 days after sowing) and four levels (B₀=0%, B₁=0.1%, B₂=0.2% and B₃=0.3%) of foliar applied boron through boric acid (17% B) solution were tested on maize hybrid FH-793. Drought, both at vegetative and reproductive stages hampered the yield and yield components of maize but more severely at vegetative stage. Drought at anthesis did not affect plant height as compared to control but differed significantly with drought at vegetative stage where plant height was affected negatively. Number of grain rows per cob, number of grains per row and 1000-grain weight were also affected by drought and boron treatments. Maximum number of grain rows per cob was recorded at normal irrigation while minimum in case of drought at vegetative stage. Maximum number of grains per row was recorded at I₁B₂ while minimum at I₁B_0. Maximum grain yield was recorded with foliar application of B @ 0.3% (B₃) at normal irrigation while minimum grain yield was recorded when no boron was applied under drought at vegetative stage. Drought at both vegetative and reproductive stages hampered the yield and yield components of maize but the drought effect was more pronounced at vegetative stage. Grain yield and yield components showed increase with foliar spray of boron (0.2% B) that helped to ameliorate the drought effects by decreasing the frequency of kernel abortion which is the main consequence of drought.